ARTICLES
Definite article THE is used both with countable and uncountable nouns.
Indefinite article A/AN is used only with singular countable nouns.
The zero article is used with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns (solid materials, gases, liquids, abstract nouns).
The choice between A and AN depends on the pronunciation of the nouns that follows the article; A comes before consonant sounds and AN comes before vowel sounds.
a dog a giant an apple an orange an interesting lecture an hour an heir a hair a universe
Both definite and indefinite articles have specific (določeno) and generic (splošno) reference.
SPECIFIC REFERENCE
Indefinite article signals a specific, but unidentified singular countable noun. There's a dog in the yard.
Zero article is used for unidentified plural countable and uncountable nouns. Buy apples and milk.
Definite article can mean a specific and identified noun. The dog in the yard bit my neighbour.
GENERIC REFERENCE
A general statement with a concrete noun representing a class.
The dog is a domestic animal.
A dog is a domestic animal.
Dogs are domestic animals.
Cheese is made from milk.
DEFINITE ARTICLE THE
It is used with all nouns, countable and uncountable, singular and plural.
It signals an identified specimen – the noun has to be defined.
There's a car parked outside. The car is blocking my driveway. Noun defined in previous sentences, mentioned before.
The car parked outside is blocking my driveway. Definition after the noun, postmodifying structure.
The car is back! It's blocking my driveway again. Definition clear from context, mentioned before.
The Sun is not the centre of the universe. Something fell on the floor. Noun defined by being unique, or just one present.
He is the tallest person in the class. That's the best show in the world. Superlatives, just one.
INDEFINITE ARTICLE A/AN, ZERO ARTICLE
A/AN is used only with singular countable nouns. Zero article is used with plural countable nouns and with uncountable nouns.
Both signal an unidentified specimen.
There's a cat in that tree. We don't know which cat.
Bring me a chair. We don't care which chair.
He's a mechanic. One of many, nothing special.
I want a bike. We need bread and milk. One of many, specific items but not identified, whichever.
Dogs are loyal animals. People never learn from their mistakes. Bikes are great. Meaning all items of same class, generic reference.
SOME NOUNS WITH THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
-family names: The Smiths are our neighbours.
-nouns meaning whole nations: The Germans started WWII.
-names of ships and trains: The Titanic sank in 1912.
-names of oceans, seas, channels, rivers: The Pacific Ocean is vast.
-names of mountain ranges: They went skiing in the Alps.
SOME NOUNS WITHOUT AN ARTICLE
-names of persons: Jack is my best friend.
-names of countries: Slovenia is a small country.
-names of lakes and mountains: Lake Geneva is very beautiful. He climbed Mount Everest.
-names of days, months, seasons, holidays: We meet on Tuesday. He was born in March.
Definite article THE is used both with countable and uncountable nouns.
Indefinite article A/AN is used only with singular countable nouns.
The zero article is used with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns (solid materials, gases, liquids, abstract nouns).
The choice between A and AN depends on the pronunciation of the nouns that follows the article; A comes before consonant sounds and AN comes before vowel sounds.
a dog a giant an apple an orange an interesting lecture an hour an heir a hair a universe
Both definite and indefinite articles have specific (določeno) and generic (splošno) reference.
SPECIFIC REFERENCE
Indefinite article signals a specific, but unidentified singular countable noun. There's a dog in the yard.
Zero article is used for unidentified plural countable and uncountable nouns. Buy apples and milk.
Definite article can mean a specific and identified noun. The dog in the yard bit my neighbour.
GENERIC REFERENCE
A general statement with a concrete noun representing a class.
The dog is a domestic animal.
A dog is a domestic animal.
Dogs are domestic animals.
Cheese is made from milk.
DEFINITE ARTICLE THE
It is used with all nouns, countable and uncountable, singular and plural.
It signals an identified specimen – the noun has to be defined.
There's a car parked outside. The car is blocking my driveway. Noun defined in previous sentences, mentioned before.
The car parked outside is blocking my driveway. Definition after the noun, postmodifying structure.
The car is back! It's blocking my driveway again. Definition clear from context, mentioned before.
The Sun is not the centre of the universe. Something fell on the floor. Noun defined by being unique, or just one present.
He is the tallest person in the class. That's the best show in the world. Superlatives, just one.
INDEFINITE ARTICLE A/AN, ZERO ARTICLE
A/AN is used only with singular countable nouns. Zero article is used with plural countable nouns and with uncountable nouns.
Both signal an unidentified specimen.
There's a cat in that tree. We don't know which cat.
Bring me a chair. We don't care which chair.
He's a mechanic. One of many, nothing special.
I want a bike. We need bread and milk. One of many, specific items but not identified, whichever.
Dogs are loyal animals. People never learn from their mistakes. Bikes are great. Meaning all items of same class, generic reference.
SOME NOUNS WITH THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
-family names: The Smiths are our neighbours.
-nouns meaning whole nations: The Germans started WWII.
-names of ships and trains: The Titanic sank in 1912.
-names of oceans, seas, channels, rivers: The Pacific Ocean is vast.
-names of mountain ranges: They went skiing in the Alps.
SOME NOUNS WITHOUT AN ARTICLE
-names of persons: Jack is my best friend.
-names of countries: Slovenia is a small country.
-names of lakes and mountains: Lake Geneva is very beautiful. He climbed Mount Everest.
-names of days, months, seasons, holidays: We meet on Tuesday. He was born in March.